I've been a mom for over 30 years, but with 10 kids and six grandchildren, I'm still learning as I go! I've got hundreds of articles on common sense motherhood, spiritual inspiration, practical homemaking, and more. All the answers? No way! Something to think about? I hope so! Join me!

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Friday, May 21, 2010

Praying for Your Children

"A Parent’s Prayer"by Amy Carmichael(Missionary to India)

Make them good soldiers of Jesus Christ; let them never turn back in the day of battle. Let them be winners and helpers of souls. Let them live not to be ministered to, but to minister.Make them loyal; let them set loyalty high above all things.Make them doers, not mere talkers. Let them enjoy hard work and choose hard things rather than easy. Make them trustworthy. Make them wise, for it is written, He hath no pleasure in fools.Let them pass from dependence on us to dependence on Thee. Let them never come under the dominion of earthly things; keep them free. Let them grow up healthy, happy, friendly, and keen to make others happy. Give them eyes to see the beauty of the world and hearts to worship its Creator.Let them be gentle to beast and bird; let cruelty be hateful to them. May they walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.And for ourselves we ask that we might never weaken. "God is my strong salvation…" We ask that we might train them to say that word and live that life, and pour themselves out for others unhindered by self.

Amen

~~

That's a good prayer not just for our children's lives, but our own as well. Here are some more things to think about...

What to Pray for Your Children

A heart which personally and fully understands, embraces, and shares the gospel

Reverence for God, and a passion to please and serve him

Continual filling, anointing, and equipping of the Holy Spirit

God-honoring family relationships filled with respect, affection, compassion and cooperation

Protection and strength to face moral temptation and cultural pressure

Repentance and humble acceptance of correction

Guidance for decisions about education options, as well as future college and career

Maturity to make the right decisions for the right reasons

Wise priorities for using time

Preparation for marriage and parenting – pray for their future spouses, too!

Ask your children how you can pray for them!

What to Pray for Yourselves as Parents

Unity in and commitment to your marriage – or if you are a single parent, basic harmony with the other parent (and any step-parent) in raising your children

A warm and trusting relationship with your children, characterized by healthy and open communication

Forgiveness and release from bitterness, whether conscious or subconscious

Confidence and boldness to lead, even when a child attempts to manipulate or rebel

Wisdom to know which battles are worth fighting, and when to let your child make decisions (and face the consequences)

That you will be an example of godliness, wisdom, grace, and good humor

Praying the Scriptures

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11

“…We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Colossians 1:9-12

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:22-23

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things… When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 11